The attorney for fired Bishop Watterson High School teacher Carla Hale says heâ€™s encouraged by a verdict rendered by a Cincinnati jury on Monday. The jury found the Cincinnati Catholic archdiocese discriminated against a teacher who was fired after becoming pregnant via artificial insemination. The jury awarded former Cincinnati teacher Christa Dias $170,000. Tom Tootle represents plaintiff Carla Hale who was fired according to her employer for revealing her same-sex â€œquasi-spousalâ€ relationship.

â€œIt certainly gives us a strong indication of the strength of our case. Itâ€™s certainly is a strong indication of success,â€ says Tootle.

In both cases the Catholic Church says the teachers violated the terms of their contracts.